ACCESS TO JUSTICE SYSTEM AS AN EFFECTIVE ENJOYMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS: CHALLENGES FACED BY ROMA MINORITY IN ALBANIA

MERITA MEÇE

ABSTRACT. Access to justice system is a broad notion which refers to the entire process that encompasses both, procedural aspects as well as the achievement of “just and equitable” legal and judicial outcomes. This paper uses a bottom-up approach and a set of primary and secondary data to assess the accessibility of the justice system in Albania based on the perceptions of 360 Roma people aged 19 years and older located in nine districts of the country. Its findings show that this target group has been reluctant to access this system because of low level of information about it, long bureaucratic procedures in place, corruption, discrimination and poor quality service delivered by structures established to provide free legal aid for the poor. Being poorly served Roma respondents call for more justice and equality, more support to this community to access justice system and more qualified services tailored to them. Finally, findings of this paper highlight various gaps which should be addressed by shaping access to justice system in Albania. pp. 215–244

How to cite: Meçe, Merita (2016), “Access to Justice System as an Effective Enjoyment of Human Rights: Challenges Faced by Roma Minority in Albania,” Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice 8(1): 215–244.

Received 30 July 2015 • Received in revised form 18 October 2015Accepted 18 October 2015 • Available online 25 October 2015